Coupling and steering connection for vehicles.



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4.1. E. & J.-A EEnsoLE. CUUPLING AND STEERING4 CUNNECTIQN FOB VEHICLES.

(Application led June 22, 1900.) A (nu Model.) ITI INIIO "me News versn: co., vuoroumn.. wAsHmoroN, n, c.

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OUPLlNG ANEP Silllilhl GNNEGTiN FR VErllCLlS.

SPECIFLGATMJN formingjpart of Letters Patent No. Gdl, dated January 15, 1901. Application filed June 22, 1900. Serial No. 21,215. KNO pincel.;

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Be it hnown that We, JAMES E. EBERSOLE and ,lecon a. lilnnnsotrl, citizens ci the United States, residing at Campbelltown, in the county o Lebanon and State ot' Pennryl- Vania, have invented anew and useful Coup-V linguand Steering Connection forVehicles, of which the following is a specification..

This invention relates to coupling,` and steerini;A connections for vehicles, and has for its object to provide an improved device combining both of these features and which is especially designed for connecting a traction-ein gine toa grain-separator, so thatthe latter may be conveniently drawn and guided solely by the engine. 1t is furthermore designed to provide an adjustable connection with the tractioinengine, so thai the coupling may be applicable to engines of dii'erent sizes, and also to provide a Foldable device, so as to be conveniently stored when not in use, and to tighten the steering connections between the two vehicles.

`Witl1 theseand other objects in view the present invention consists in the combination and arrangement of parts, as will be herein after more fully described, shown in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being,I understood that changes in the iorm, proportion, size, and minor details of construction and arrangement may he made within the scope of the claims without departing from the' spirit or sacri'licing;` any ol' the advantages tot the invention.

ln the drawings, Figure l. is a bottom plan view of a coupling,r constructed and arranged in accordance with the present invention. lifignZ is a side elevation thereo.- Fifg. 3 is a detail perspective View ol the forward end oil thc device which is to be cdnirccted to a traction-engine.

y Corresponding; parts are designated by like characters ol' reference in all of the figures ol' the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, it will be seen that there is employed a coupling-pole formed in two substantially equal sect-ions l and 2, which have their inner ends connected by means olf a hinge li, which is secured to the lower sides ol' the pole-sections, so that the latter may l'cld upwardly, hut are held rigidly against a downward break by reason of the abuttcd inner ends thereof. To hold the polesections in their normally alined or ex tended position, a plate or har Ll is fastened to the upper side of one of the sections and arranged to overlap the adjacent inner endot the other section. The latter-"is provided with an eye or keeper 5, which is designed to project through a slot or opening G in the free end portion of the plate or bar and for the reception of a key, preferably in the form of a hook 7, pivoted tothe outer side of the plate or bar. Also each pole-section is provided with a brace plate or projection S to overlap the joint between the two sections, and thereby relieve the ,iointof any lateral strain.

,lhe outer end ot the forward pole-section lis designed to be connected to the front swiveled axle l) of any ordinary traction-en eine by means oi' pairs of substantially l..- shaped couplingr'platcs ll), which are located at opposite sides of the pole. The members of each pair of plates are located one above the other, with their longer branches projecting in advance oi the pole,wl1ile their shorter branches are overlapped and extend transversely across the pole.` These shorter branches are provided with corresponding longitinlinal slots 1l for the reception ot' transverse iasteniugs, such as bolts 12,'whereby the plates are seen red to the pole, and may be adj ustedv in opposite directions, so as to vvary the distance between the members for the purpose oi' accommodating the different sizes of axles which are received between the plates, as shown in Fig. i? of the drawings.

`'lhe outer endiot each plate is provided with an opening 125, and within one oi the openings is secured one end of a chain or suitable flexible connection li, which is designed to he passed around the inner side of the axle of the engine and through the openingin the diagonally opposite couplingplale, the tree end of the chain being provided with a hook l5, which is engaged with one oi the links of the chain, so as to form a connection between the engine and the conplinv'. AsV best shown in liig. l, the forward end ol" the front pole-secioction is rounded laterally, as at i6, so that the axle il may rock laterally thereon when the engine is being' turned. y 'lhe rear end "of the pole is designed lo he which is carried-by a pair of metallic ears 2l,

'after Which the inner ends of connected to the front axle 17 of a grain-sepa rater, which is commonly provided with a swiveled bolster i8, and the pole is connected directly tothis bolster, so that the axle may be free to turn laterally and track with the axle of the engine. This connection between the pole and the axle of the separator is preferably had by means of a vertically-breaking hinged connection formed by means of a pair oi screw-eyes 19, Which project forwardly 'from the bolster and at opposite sides of the swiveled connection with the axle and for the reception of a transverse pivot pin or bolt 20,

projected rearwardly from the pole and received between the eyes. The adjacent axles oi' the engine and the separator are also oonnect'ed by means of crossed cables 22, which are provided with hooks 23 at their ends for engagement with eyes 24, projecting from the outer faces of`the axles. The crossed portions of the cables pass through a guide-eye 25, which is pendent fromthe under side of the rear pole-section and adjacent. to the hinged connection of the two sections. By this arrangement the axle of the separator'is automatically turned with the axle of the engine, so that they Wheels of the separator are compelled to track with those of the engine. Thus the separator is guided by the engine and does not require the employment of extra ,hands to guide the separator independently'of the engine.

From the foregoing description it Will be seen hatno change is required in either the engine or the separator, and thereiore the present device is complete in itself'and may be applied to any form' of traetimi-engine and separator. By reason oi' the hinged connection of the pole-sections the device may be folded for storage.y Also the connerlions are made Withfthe engine and the separator, whil/e thel hinged ci'nnecionf is breken upwardly,

he pole-sections are forced downwardly, so as to tighten the steering connections'22., and thereby take 'np Whatever slack they may have.

. What is claimed is- 1. The combination With the adjacent axles of opposite vehicles, of a coupling-pole, having its opposite ends connected to thc respective axles, and also provided with an intermediate hinged joint.

2. The coi.ibination with the adjacent axles ofopposite vehicles, of a coupling-pole formed into sections', the inner ends oiv the latter being` hingedly connected to break upwardly and also ahutted in their normal positions, the opposite ends of the pole beingconneeted to the respective axles. v v

,3. Asectional coupling-pole of the class described, having its opposite ends provided with con neciions for application to respective vehicles, a `hinged connection for the inner ends of the sections, a plate or bar carried by onerof the sections and overlapping the joint,

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a keeper carried by the other section and projecting through a slot in the plate or bar, and a key carried by the plate and forengagcment with the leeper.

4. The combination with the adjacent swiveled axles of opposite vehicles, of acouplingpole having its opposite ends connected to the respective axles, and also provided with an intermediate flexible joint,which is breakable vertically, and crossed flexible steering connections having their opposite ends fastened to the respective axles.

5. The combination with a pairof axles, one of which is swiveled, ol a couplingpole therefor, a loose connection bet-Ween the swiveled axleand the adjacent end of the pole, and the latter having a laterally-rounded end to pormit of a laterally-rocking movement of the axle.

The combination with an axle, and coupling-pole, of a connection therefor, comprising` a pair oisubstantially L-shaped plates or bars, which are arranged one above the other, the transverse branches thereof being loverlapped Jtransversely across the .pole and provided with corresponding slots, fasenings passing through the slots and adjustably connecting the plates or hars to the pole, and the opposite longitudinal branches embracing the axle and also connected thereto.1 l

7. The com bin ation with opposite swiveled axles, one of which has a bolster swiveled thereon, of a coupling-pole, having a vertically-breakable hinged connection with the bolster, the opposite axle having a laterallyrocking connection with the other end of the pole, and crossed steeringconnections having their opposite ends connected to the bolster and the opposite axle, respectively.

8. A couplingpole of .the class described, having two pairs of substantially L-shaped coupling plates or bars located at opposite `sides of one end thereof, the members of each 'pair being located one above thc other, with their respective longitudinal 'branches projectingl beyond the end of the pole, and the transverse branches being overlapped transversely across the adjacent side of the pole 'and provided with corresponding longitudinal slots, one' or more l'astenings passing through the slotted members oi both pairs of` plates or bars and the pole, and a chain having ono end connected to the outer endol' one of the L-shaped members, the opposite ond of the chain being passed through an opening in one of the othermcmbers, and hooked into one oi the links. v

In testimony thatlwc claim the fr'n' \,goi|igas our own we have hereto alli xed our signatures in the presence of tivo witnesses.

JAS. E.. EIERSOLE. JACOB A., EBERSOLF.

Witnesses:

LAVINA WAifrERs, g SUSAN l'owMAN.

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